Out of 42 different content marketing tactics, the CMI Content Marketing Playbook and CMI community ranked testimonials as one of the top 10 tactics.

Testimonials can definitely give your content that extra boost — and credibility —your audience is looking for.

But here’s the thing: Receiving testimonials after a project is complete is easy enough. But how do you receive testimonials when your content isn’t published yet?

Your content is ready to go. It’s proofed, designed and looking sharp. And, hey, the landing page is looking nifty, too.

What’s missing? Some testimonials to tip the scales in your favor.

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The problem: How do you write content-rich eNewsletters without spending endless hours creating them?

The solution: Develop a repeatable process.

The word count of your eNewsletter doesn’t matter. What matters is that you have a good template and a process you can quickly implement  eNewsletter after eNewsletter.

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If you’ve never worked with a graphic designer before, you might wonder where to start.

Let’s say you’re repurposing your existing articles into an e-book. And let’s also say you’re thinking of having a custom graphic design. Some obvious questions pop up:

• Will a graphic designer guide you through the unfamiliar world of design?
• At what point in the content development process should you talk to the designer?
• How can you tell if you and your designer are a good match before you work together?

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Has this ever happened to you?

You run around looking for your car keys.
You could’ve sworn you just saw them right there on the counter.
But now they’re gone.

Then you hear that familiar jingle.
You slide your hand into your pocket.
Tada!

Your keys were right under your nose the whole time.
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If you’re publishing content these days, you’re, um, a publisher.

And publishers use professional proofreaders to review and correct copy. So as a publisher, you could benefit from having a professional proofreader.

For instance, you may need help editing for logic, structure or flow.

Or your copy may need simple proofreading for grammar, spelling or punctuation mistakes.

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It used to drive me bonkers.

I’d interview someone for a project.

10% of the interview ended up in the project.

90% never even saw the light of day.

And you know what made matters even worse? That 90% was valuable and useful content.

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Think all video interviews go smoothly? Think again.

If interviews are part of your plan to capture exceptional, engaging video content, you’re counting on someone else to give you what you want. And that can be risky.

What’s the biggest challenge in any video interview?

Capturing content that is interesting, entertaining and believable. Not everyone is comfortable in front of a video camera.Continue Reading

It goes by many names.

A marketing video.

A branding documentary.

A corporate video.

Call it what you will, every once in a while, I’ll bump into one of these short videos and I’ll be amazed at what I’m watching.Continue Reading